Buffalo Niagara Waterkeeper Press Release

Nearly $450,000 project transformed Tonawanda Creek shoreline, created new ecological habitats and improved public access in year-long project

NORTH TONAWANDA, NY –  Buffalo Niagara Waterkeeper has completed another transformative waterfront project with improved ecological habitats and public access on Tonawanda Creek at the North Tonawanda Botanical Gardens. Working with their successful model of collaborative community partnerships, Waterkeeper led the project and partnered with the North Tonawanda Parks Department, the North Tonawanda Botanical Garden Organization, and landowner New York State Canal Corporation, with funding provided through the Greenway Ecological Fund for the shoreline restoration, and the Community Foundation for Greater Buffalo and the East Hill Foundation for the public access trail work.  

As part of Buffalo Niagara Waterkeeper’s Living Shoreline Program, the project transformed the Tonawanda Creek shoreline to a more natural form using sustainable practices and nature-based design techniques. The Living Shorelines Program was developed by Waterkeeper in response to the need to restore critical shoreline habitats within the Niagara River watershed, 80% of which have degraded over the last decade. When in a natural, healthy state, shorelines provide important ecosystem services like filtration of pollutants to improve water quality, improved community resiliency and reduction in property loss and erosion. They also provide critical fish and wildlife habitat.  

“Mother Nature is by far the best engineer and architect. Using innovative design strategies, we are mimicking nature and natural processes through the implementation of resilient shorelines,” said Buffalo Niagara Waterkeeper’s Executive Director Jill Jedlicka, adding, “This site adds to the growing list of successful restoration projects in our region, that cumulatively have a positive impact on the health and quality of our freshwater resources and ecosystems. The work and jobs created by restoration activities like this help strengthen the region’s Blue Economy and improves the quality of life in our community.” Local companies Wendel and Ecological Restoration Inc. were contracted by Buffalo Niagara Waterkeeper to complete the restoration work. 

“It’s been a pleasure to work with Buffalo Niagara Waterkeeper and the North Tonawanda Botanical Garden Organization on this project that is yet another piece to the puzzle in revitalizing Botanical Gardens into a public space that promotes the park not only a scenic destination, but a grounds for further experiencing, supporting and learning about our local habitats and ecosystems,” said Alex Domaradzki, Director of North Tonawanda Parks Department. 

“Buffalo Niagara Waterkeeper has been doing great work to restore the ecological functioning of riparian habitat in the Niagara Greenway, effectively demonstrating how our waterfront can be sustainably managed for a variety of uses while advancing the vision, goals, and principles of the Niagara Greenway Plan,” said Tim DePriest, Chair of Greenway Ecological Standing Committee. 

“The North Tonawanda Botanical Gardens Living Shoreline restoration project is yet another in a series of ecologically valuable Living Shoreline projects undertaken by Buffalo Niagara Waterkeeper in partnership with the local communities and the Niagara River Greenway,” said Daniella Piper, NYPA Regional Manager for Western New York. “NYPA is proud to provide its continued involvement and support for these important ecological efforts.” 

“Buffalo Niagara Waterkeeper has done vital work on mending our waterfront with the Living Shorelines Program” said NYS Senator Robert Ortt. “This latest effort with North Tonawanda Botanical Gardens will improve our local ecosystem and enhance Tonawanda Creek for generations to come. I applaud all the stakeholders involved for completing this important work and promoting our local freshwater habitats.” 

 "The North Tonawanda Botanical Garden not only offers visitors a lovely spot to find rest and restoration in nature, it now also offers a rare shallow-water habitat to the fish and wildlife of the Niagara Greenway,” said NYS Assembly Member William Conrad. “I thank Buffalo Niagara Waterkeeper for spearheading this living shoreline project, with support from the North Tonawanda Botanical Garden Organization and the North Tonawanda Parks Department. This work carries forth Buffalo Niagara Waterkeeper's dual mission of protecting our region's native flora and fauna, and educating the public about the function and value of the shorelines within the Niagara River watershed. The organization's environmental stewardship is a gift and inspiration to all of us who live and play in this naturally beautiful and ecologically important region of New York State." 

“The East Hill Foundation was happy to support our partners at Buffalo Niagara Waterkeeper with funding for the ADA-accessible walkway at this spectacular redesigned and restored waterfront site,” said East Hill Foundation Executive Director Ken Dulian. “Public access for all is an important component to serving our communities as the restoration and protection of our waterways, shorelines and ecosystems continues in Western New York.” 

The shoreline restoration project at the North Tonawanda Botanical Gardens restored close to an acre of land and reclaimed a portion of the parking lot to natural habitat. The project transformed an area that was formerly mowed lawn to include valuable aquatic, wetland, and meadow habitats. Native plants were installed to benefit surrounding fish and wildlife.   

The shoreline was pulled back to create a cove along the waterfront. This important shallow water area now has submerged and emergent aquatic plants that are thriving. Recycled Ash trees from the golf course across the street were placed along the shoreline to help shield the restored area from boat wakes and other erosive forces. In addition to protecting the shoreline the recycled trees provide basking areas for turtles, perching areas for birds, and in-water habitat for fish and aquatic organisms. A swale, or low-point in the landscape was

incorporated in the project design to funnel and drain runoff flowing from the parking lot into the swale areas which were planted with moisture-loving plants. These plants will absorb and filter nutrients and runoff from the surrounding landscape, improving water quality in Tonawanda Creek. In addition to the ecological improvements and restoration, the project improved public access at the site, with educational signage and ADA-accessible trails and a bridge. 

Tonawanda Creek serves historical importance as well as ecological significance in our watershed. When the Erie Canal was built, the last 11.6 miles utilized Tonawanda Creek to chart its path from Pendleton to the Niagara River. The Creek was dredged, channelized, and berms built on either side to allow for navigation of animal-drawn boats. In the process much of the aquatic, shoreline, and floodplain ecosystems along this stretch of the creek were degraded or removed.  The work completed by Buffalo Niagara Waterkeeper and its partners will restore the natural ecology of the area to what existed before these anthropogenic changes occurred. 

In addition to the ecological benefits, one of the main purposes of the Living Shoreline projects is to inform the community about best management practices for shoreline areas in their communities and yards. If similar practices are implemented throughout our region, it will go a long way towards improving water quality in the waterways that provide our drinking water, improving biodiversity for species like pollinators that we rely on to pollinate crops, sequestering carbon, and increasing resiliency to flooding and other impacts from climate change.  While this project took several years of planning, securing funds, designing and constructing, the intent is to inspire community members to think differently about these critical riparian ecosystems and to make change which can be simple through actions like reducing mowing or adding native plants to a landscape. 

About Buffalo Niagara Waterkeeper

Buffalo Niagara Waterkeeper is a community-based non-profit organization that protects and restores our waters and surrounding ecosystems for the benefit of current and future generations. For 30 years, Buffalo Niagara Waterkeeper has been the guardian of Western New York's fresh water, protecting clean water, restoring the health of ecosystems, connecting people to the water and inspiring economic growth and community engagement. For more information, visit www.bnwaterkeeper.org. 

About North Tonawanda Botanical Garden Organization

North Tonawanda Botanical Garden Organization, Inc., is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization.  Established in 2018 to maintain the garden as a scenic destination along the Erie Canal for our community to enjoy, we maintain an ongoing sustainable park to teach our citizens about native plants and pollinators, water wise practices, sustainable gardening, and environmental stewardship.  The North Tonawanda Botanical Garden Organization, Inc. uses sustainable practices and native plants suited to Niagara County and Western New York.